Widespread flooding in Samoa as Cyclone Gita leaves its mark

Considerable flooding is being reported in many parts of Samoa after torrential rain fell overnight, including in the capital of Apia.

Footage from Apia shows very deep water with many buildings inundated.

The country has experience extensive flooding overnight from the storm now being called Cyclone Gita.
Source: 1 NEWS

About 233 people have been evacuated to evacuation centres and power is out in parts of the country.

Images from Apia show the extent of flooding on February 10.

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The Disaster Management Office is now assessing the damage.

The country has been on alert since a cyclone warning was issued earlier this week for the potential impact of the storm now being called Cyclone Gita.

Latest estimates suggest the winds from the storm could ramp up in Samoa today, but considerable rainfall has already been recorded.

A toppled container in Apia after strong winds hit the Samoan capital on February 10.

Source: 1 NEWS

The Samoa Observer reported that flights were cancelled yesterday between Apia and Auckland, as well as from Sydney to Apia.

A Special Weath Bulletin has been issued by the Samoa Meteorological Service and residents across Samoa are warned to expect heavy rain, very strong winds and big swells today.

Meanwhile, it is still unclear whether the storm could track towards New Zealand.

MetService's latest update on tropical cyclone activity said as of 4pm yesterday the storm was still not technically a cyclone, and is currently considered to only be a tropical depression, but also said the chance of it becoming one was high.

The forecaster said it should curve south toward Niue on Sunday, then turn west towards Tonga on Monday, and could track south of Fiji on Tuesday.